Another album that I have little explanation for. Did I buy it? When? Where? Truly no recollection, but here it is. Mercy. “Swedish Metal”. Nuclear War Now! Records out out this reissue combining the original EP Swedish Metal (1982) with a whole side of recording sessions from 1981. The whole thing remastered in 2001.
Bottom line, this is pure vintage metal. Pure NWOBHM aggression, raw energy and riffing. Production is barely there and the vocals hang in kinda creating a mood without ever really….singing. Perfect for the NWOBHM times. Sweden is, of course, legendary for their metal and Mercy apparently were one of the forefathers and it shows in glorious primitive thrashing.
From the Nuclear War Now! Bandcamp page.
“With the untimely death of Andrija Veljaca in 2005, the legacy of Swedish metal pioneers Mercy was sealed and secured. Mercy are among those few bands which explored and conquered multiple styles of metal. Guided by Veljaca, the only consistent member of the band, Mercy began as a youthful, raging Heavy Metal outfit before shifting toward a heavier doom sound by the mid-1980s. Indeed, for many unfamiliar with Mercy’s early material, the band is most commonly associated with its doom-laden offerings, particularly the 1985 album “Witchburner” featuring Eddie “Messiah” Marcolin on vocals, who later achieved greater fame for his work with Candlemass. Mercy’s often overshadowed Heavy Metal-era deserves greater attention, however, and with this series of reissues, licensed from TPL records, NWN! honors the legacy of Veljaca and Mercy by making this material available again, most of which has not been repressed on vinyl since the 1980s. In addition, NWN! has endeavored to commit to vinyl demo material and other rarities that are out of print or have never previously been released on record. “
Dig it!- J. Campbell"
Verdict -- Keeper
Morass of Molasses - The Ties that Bind
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